Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1887-02-24

Mountain, entirely beyond the sight of III
enemy. This movement must have beel
commenced in the morning. as the way wa
long, and much skill and patience wer
necessary TO keep the moving column
screened by the woods and other cover
from discovery by the enemy.
We have it from the other side that thi
movement was not even suspected; an
that an enemy descending from tho cloud
would not have created more panic thai
did Cooks men coming in upon their lei
and rear.
All this, however, was beyond my sigh
and knowledge at the time. What | di,
see was the magnificent attack of the Sixtl
and Nineteenth Corps, as they scaled tn
hill in front.
The thing came with the most surprlsin,
suddenness; il was all over in an hour o
less, the enemy roated out of their posi-
ton, losing sixteen cannon, eleven hun
dred prisoners, and retreating in disorder
up the Valley.
There was hardly daylight enough to fin.
ish 1t in when it began.
| The sun was down, certainly, when the
| first gun was fired.
- ShaniaAaA had -nHAitad till -thA frsL ahols aI
the Ei9th Corps, far around on tho right
were heard, and then launched both the
other corps directly at the hill.
There was large earthwork back of the
town, which was built by General Banks
in 1862. The heaviest of our artillery had
been placed in it, aud the opening of the
battle OF Fishers Hill, aS / saw it, was
announced by the discharge of one of
these great guns. shell flew over Stras-
burg, bursting on the hill; and instantly q
dozen or more large cannon Joined in the
| Arfi A..
and as the shells with burning fuses darted
through the twilight air, the effect was in
the highest degree picturesque and exciting.
This opening chorus had not ceased
when we heard repeated cheers beyond the
town. Up from the hollow, dashing right
at the hill, went line after line of blue clad
men. Not less than ten thousand infantry,
with bayonets fixed, were moving up its
steep side, now in plain view, now hidden
by trees, but charging straight on. Fire
dotted the heights, as the enemy opened
with their muske:ry; we heard yells, cheers,
and renewed peals from the large guns;
and then the swelling chorus of prolonged
cheering told US that another victory had
been gained.
In less than half an hour we received or
ders to follow the army instantly, and rejoin
our corps rs soon as we could.
We were speedily on the move. After
the cavalry, the Nineteenth Corps had the
advance; and there was moth ng either
glorious or delightful about the me we
had in overtaking it. The road up Fishers
Hill was filled with moving infantry and
artillery, all pressing along in the pursuit.
All was confusion, exultation, and 90: no.
body seemed to know what the orders were,
except that we were to keep after the enemy.
1t was fortunate for them that the darkness
of the night shielded their movements; and
though the pursuit by the infantry was
kept up till almost daylight it was impos-
sible to overtake the scattered fragments.
In several instances squads of the fugitives,
ambushed behind stone walls, fred on their
pursuers. Our cavalry was at this time
over in one of the parallel valleys, trying
to force passage through, so as TO cut off
the retreating Confederates higher up, but
in this they failed.
40 Woodstock 20 wore permitted %, rost
from about four o'clock in the morning to
ten. Then up and on again, for an exciting
days work. Sharply following up the re-
treating enemy, we skirmished with them
along miles of the way. Their army
to be resolved into a long SIX rmish-
line, which held one stone wall after an
other, till the weight of our attack forced it
off.
O, the fatigues and discomforts of those
lying marches-who that was there can
ever forget them. Who can forget the
glory, the sorrow over lost comrades, the
strength of heart that came to us with our
great experience. What comrade can ever
forget "the days when we went soldering"